About RNFOO

Purpose The Registered Nurses' Foundation of Ontario (RNFOO) is a charitable organization that provides financial support for nurses and nursing students in Ontario to further their nursing education or engage in research.

The Foundation provides funds for continuing education and research projects at the baccalaureate and graduate levels, offering scholarships, grants, bursaries, and research awards to qualified residents of Ontario. It also administers several Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) Interest Group Awards and Scholarships. RNFOO provides funding for practical nursing, basic undergraduate studies, post-RN undergraduate studies, graduate studies, and continuing education, as well as providing Continuing Education awards, and the new Nurse Innovator Award.

History As a charitable organization that provides financial support for Registered Nurses and Nursing students, RNFOO began in 1972 as an arm of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). As such, awards and scholarships to support further study by RNAO members were provided by donations from other RNAO members – “nurses helping nurses”.

In the early 90's the Foundation was in jeopardy as a viable entity, as a small number of members provided the bulk of the donation income. The Board of the Foundation recognized a need to increase the number and value of the awards, and to target the greater population of nurses. A shortage of nurses and rising tuition costs accelerated this need.

In 1997 the Foundation was restructured, with the support of RNAO, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), and the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA). This included separating from the RNAO umbrella, and establishing a broader set of goals to provide greater financial support to all eligible nurses and nursing students in Ontario.

Over the past 30 years, more than 1,000 awards and scholarships worth more than $2 million have been given to deserving nurses and other health-care professionals* across Ontario. In 2020, RNFOO had 64 awards and scholarships worth $80,000 available.

Today, nurses, friends, corporations and the public contribute to the scholarship funds; investments now total over a million dollars. The RNFOO Board is focusing on fund-raising activities to further increase its capability to support nurses.

Over the past twenty years, RNFOO has promoted fund-raising through its annual Gala, an event that celebrates its award winners and the nursing profession. The Gala has been successful in showcasing the revitalized Foundation and its efforts to provide financial support for nurses and nursing students.

*Infection Prevention and Control Awards were available to health care disciplines outside of nursing.